Match box



Aug. 13, 1929.

. E. B. HOUGH 1,724,712

HATCH BOX Filed March 9, 1927 INVENTOR 4 Edward B. HOUEH .FI' 2 BY Jaluminum ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES EDWARD B. HOUGH, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

MATCH BOX.

Application filed March 9, 1927. Serial No. 173,830.

The invention relates to match boxes of the type usually carried around111 the pocket and used to hold a package of matches having a strikingsurface, and,

more particularly, to a construction of a match box of this type havinga fire wall between the matches and the striking surface so that instriking a match the travel of fire from the striking surface to thematches will be positively prevented.

According to the invention a match box is provided which may comprise apair of covers in one or both of which may be disposed a package or bookof matches of the usual construction. In a match box in which a matchbook is provided in each cover, each cover may be provided with a firewall between the matches and the striking surface, which walls mayoverlap when the covers are in approximately closed position. The firewalls may also serve as retaining means for holding the books in thecovers. In order to light a match it may be placed with its head betweenthe striking surfaces of the match box and the match given a quick pullout of the box. The fire wall positively prevents any travel of fire orsparks from the striking surfaces to the matches in the box.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth andclaimed.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following particular description and from an inspection of' theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. l represents a longitudinal section through thematch box, the covers being shown in open position, one cover beingshown as having a book of matches therein and the other cover beingshown empty for "purpose of clearly showing the construction of thecover.

'Fig. 2 represents a plan view of one of the covers, the match box beingin open position.

50 'Fig. 3 is a detailed section through the hinge.-

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing a match being disposed between thestriking surfaces in position to be pulled out of the box to light thematch.

walls generally in the s gether at their-back In thefollowingdescription and in the claims parts will be identified byspecific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as genericin their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

Referring to the drawing a match box is shown, for the purpose ofillustration, arranged to have a match book in each cover. It will beunderstood, however, that the invention is equally applicable to a matchbox arranged to have a match book in one of the covers only.

The match box may comprise a pair of covers 1 and 2, the base cover 1comprising a bottom wall 3, a front wall 4, a back wall 5 and side walls6. The shape is generally rectangular with the front and back wallsrounding into the bottom wall. The cover is made slightly deeper at theback end, the depth decreasing uniformly toward the front end. Each sidewall 6v may have a notch 13 which is disposed at the end of the strikingstrip 27 of the match book 23 for a purpose hereinafter shown.

The base cover 1 is provided with a transverse member 7 extending1between the side ape of an angle iron. The horizontal flange 8 of thetransverse member 7 has reduced extensions which fit in holes 9 in thesides 6 of the cover. Tongues are punched out of the horizontal flange 8and bent upwardly and away from the hinge to form hooks 10 for a purposeherein described more in detail. The transverse member 7 has a verticalflange 11 extending upwardly to act as a fire wall.

The top cover 2 is made substantially the same as the top cover 1 andhas a fire wall 12 which overlaps the fire wall 11 when the box isclosed or in the position for striking a match as shown in Fig. 4. I

The covers are hingedly connected towallsby a hinge construction havinga spring built therein to continually ur e the covers into closedrelation. This fiinge, a detail of which is shown in Fig. 3, may be madeup of interfitting knuckles secured to the covers, alternate knuckles 17and 18 of one cover interfitting alternate knuckles l9 and 20 on theother. A hollow pintle 14 may be provided having a coil spring 15disposed therein, the ends 16 of the spring, being bent to engagenotches in the end hinge knuckles 17 and 20 so that the spring willcontinually urge the covers into closed position.

It is obvious that this match box may be used with diiferent forms ofmatch books or match packages. For purposes of illustrating theinvention a single form of match book will be described. This match book23 is of a type commonly used and comprises a plurality of sheets ofpaper board partially cut to.- form matches 25, the sheets beingfastened between the back cover 26 of thematch book and the strikingmember 27 by a fastener 24. The; striking strip or member 27'is providedwith striking materialto provid'e a striking surface for igniting thematches in the well known manner.

In-order to place the book 23 of matches in a cover thebook has its backcover 26 torn so that the. book ofmatches appears as shown in Figs-.1and 2. To insert the book of matches ina cover, the book is placed withitsstriking member 27 under the transverse member 7 between thetransverse member and the hinge, and the book pushed under thetransverse member to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the strikingmember 27 being. disposedin the hooks 10. It'will be understood that. amatch book is placed in the top cover: 2 in the same man- When it isdesired to ignite azmatch, the match boxmay be opened and a match 25broken off from the book in the usual man- The match-is then placed intheposition shown in Fig; 4 with its headbetween the striking'members 27of the match books with the end of the match protruding throughthenotches 13.. The match is then pulled-out. with a jerk, the scraping ofthe match' head on the striking surfaces insuringquick. andcertainignition of the match. This construction insures that the matches areeasily lighted without the liability of breaking the cardboard shank ofthe match.

Igmtmgthe remaining matches 1s positively preventedby the'firewallssince, when the matchbox is in the nearly closed position shown in Fig.4 with the fire walls overit is impossible for sparks to fly nited.match to causev the remaining matches to ignite. such that the case maybe inexpensively .made and yet it'will stand up in use and give faithfulservice.

There are no parts to break or get out'of order, and the match boxissimple to operate and the matches may bev ignited with great certaintyand safety.

While certain novel features of the invention have beentshown' anddescribed and have been pointed out inthe annexed clalms,

it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and-changesin the forms and Furthermore, the construction is details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those. skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. A match box" comprising covers members each having a bottom wall andside and end walls, hinge means connecting said cover members at theback end walls thereof each cover member having a fire wall extendingbetween andfixedly secured to its sidewalls and adapted to hold apackage of matches in saidicover member, a side wall of each covermember having a notchdisposed at the end of the striking surfacesof saidpackage, whereby a match may be held with its head between the strikingsurfaces of said books and pulled out-to light saidmatch.

2. A match box comprising cover: members each being adapted to hold a.plurality of matches and a striking surface, each-cover member having afire wall betweenvthe. heads of said matches and said. striking surface,said walls overlapping when said cover members are in substantiallyclosed position.

3. A match box comprising a body memher having a rectangularbottom,=;front and back walls and side walls, a'cover hingedly connectedto said back wall and engaging said front wall, a side wall having anotch in the top near the front wall, said body having a firstfire wallextending between said side walls for holding a book of body member, atransverse member disposed in said openings, said transverse memberhaving a retaining portion provided with hooks, and an upstandingportion providing a fire wall, said body being adaptedto have a bundleofmatches having a striking strip held under said retaining portion withthe striking strip under'said hooks and the fire wall between saidstriking strip and the heads of thematches.

5. Inv combination, amatch boxcomprising a body member, a plurality ofmatches and a striking surface disposed in said body member, a covermember, there being a sliding surface disposed in said cover member, afirst fire wall secured to said body member between said strikingsurface and the heads of said matches, said cover member being unitaryand adapted to substantially close the box, a second firewall secured tosaid cover member and overlapping said.

first fire wall when the box is closed, and hinge means connecting anedge of said cover member to an edge of said body member, whereby amatch may be struck by placing the head between said striking surfaceand sliding surface and then pulling said match.

6. In combination, a match box compris ing a body member, a plurality ofmatches and a striking surface disposed in said bod member a covermember, there being a sli ing surface disposed in said cover member,said cover member being unitary and adapted to substantially close saidbox,

hinge means connecting an edge of said cover member to an edge of saidbody member, safety fire preventing devices providing an effective andcomplete barrier between said surfaces and the heads of said matcheswhen a match is placed with its head between said surfaces to be pulledout of the box to light the match, said devices allowing at the sametime closing of said In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD B. HOUGH.

